Learning to run again

It’s almost a year since I felt a twinge in my shin after a hard run. I had felt that pain before and I knew it well. So I took it easy for a few days, did some strength exercises, and was able to keep running. But I was training for a big year; three 50K races and a road marathon in four months, and a subtle, pulsing ache stayed with me as I kept increasing my mileage.

About a month before my first ultra, Lidingöloppet Ultramarathon 50K, I had just been out on a 35 km long run and had throbbing and aching shins the rest of the night. I decided to rest until the race.

I got through my first 50K, and my second, and the pain was manageable. It was mostly just annoying. I seemed to be able to race just fine without any pain at all, but training regularly made the pain worse.

I went to Kebnekaise, I ran another 50K. The pain still came and went every so often, and just wouldn’t ever go away completely. I took three months off from running, and when 2017 rolled around I decided it was time to start going out on some short, ridiculously easy runs.

Nope. Pain is still there. “What is the matter with my legs?!” I even got an MRI recently that came out clear. The doctor I went to gave me two options: orthopedic insoles or surgery if that didn’t help. And according to the doctor surgery is only a 50/50 shot of really fixing it, whatever “it” is…

So now what? I’m getting up early tomorrow to go and get custom made orthopedic insoles, and I’ll also get a fresh pair of Hoka Bondi 4 delivered. For now I’m putting all of my eggs in the max-cushioned, anti-born-to-run basket, since I’m clearly not born to run.

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